Fiat Chrysler files lawsuit to freeze assets of its former Australia chief

Fiat Chrysler Australia accuses Campbell, pictured, of using more than millions of dollars to fund extravagances.

Fiat Chrysler's Australian subsidiary has filed suit against two former top executives in the country, accusing them of bilking the company out of millions of dollars to fund lavish lifestyles, according to Australian news reports.

Fiat Chrysler Australia is trying to freeze the assets of Clyde Campbell, its managing director between 2010 and 2013, the Melbourne-based Age newspaper reported. The company accuses Campbell of using more than $30 million Australian ($23.2 million U.S.) to fund extravagances that included a yacht, a plane, club memberships and luxury vacations.

The automaker also is accusing Campbell's successor, Veronica Johns, of using company funds to help fund renovations to her family home, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Johns left the company in December, citing "personal reasons."

An FCA spokesperson confirmed the suit but declined to comment.

Johns was replaced as head of Fiat Chrysler Australia in December by Patrick Dougherty, former head of Mopar, the FCA parts subsidiary.

Former Daimler executive Ernst Lieb, who headed Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. and in Australia, was also named in Fiat Chrysler's lawsuit, according to the Age. Lieb moved to Australia after he was fired by Daimler in 2011 amid claims he had improperly used company money to upgrade his home.

Lieb became part owner in a company in Melbourne selling Jeep and Chrysler vehicles that received millions of dollars of payments from Fiat Chrysler for marketing support and to help it buy a dealership, the Agereported.